Israel plans ‘Hexagon Alliance’ in Mediterranean, Middle East to counter hostile regional blocs
Speaking ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu outlined a plan to establish what he called a “hexagon alliance system”...
Geostrategy
Geneva talks loom as Trump backs regime change and redeploys second US carrier
The Pentagon confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford is being moved from the Caribbean toward the Middle East, a...
Geostrategy
Business
PM issues law forming Dubai Investment Fund to oversee government investments
DUBAI, UAE – Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued Law...
- The law endows the Fund with the financial and administrative independence to pursue its objectives along with the legal mandate to do so.
- Dubai Investment Fund will be responsible for investing Dubai Government funds, surpluses and the general reserve locally and internationally.
Geostrategy
Russia, Saudi say sovereign Palestine state vital for regional peace
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Russia and Saudi Arabia expressed concern on the present situation in Gaza and said that a...
- The two sides discussed the developments in Palestine and expressed their deep concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
- Russia and Saudi Arabia stressed on the need to stop military operations in the Palestinian territories, and the need to protect civilians.
Business
ENEC, X-energy sign agreement
The firms will collaborate on nuclear energy technologies.
- The MoU was signed at COP28 and comes in line with ENEC’s recently announced ADVANCE Program.
- The central aim of ENEC’s ADVANCE program is to harness the latest advancements in nuclear energy technologies.
Geostrategy
Mideast ministers met with Joly, Trudeau in Ottawa to discuss Israel-Hamas war
OTTAWA, CANADA — A group of foreign ministers from the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met Canadian Foreign Affairs...
- The quietly planned meeting focused on ways countries could help efforts to secure peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
- The group is not a joint peace project with Israel, and says its leaders aim to speak on behalf of Arab and Muslim people people.
Geostrategy
Israel must be held accountable for its actions, says Palestinian PM
DOHA, QATAR - Prime Minister of Palestine Mohammad Shtayyeh called for holding Israel accountable, imposing sanctions and not allowing it...
- The Palestinian PM denounced Washington’s use of veto against a UN draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
- He said that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive political solution that would end the suffering of the Palestinians.
Geostrategy
Russia’s Putin offers assistance in Gaza Strip de-escalation
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered assistance in helping to deescalate the tense situation in the Gaza...
- This offer was made during a telephonic conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- The two leaders discussed continued cooperation regarding the evacuation of Russian nationals and family members from the region.
Geostrategy
Joint ministerial committee meets US secretary of state
Washington, US – A committee of the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit under the chairmanship of Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin...
- A ministerial committee led by Saudi foreign minister holds discussions with US Secretary of State.
- The committee asked the US to influence Israel and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Geostrategy
IMF, UAE, other countries meet on anti-money laundering, counter terrorism financing
ABU DHABI, UAE - International Monetary Fund (IMF), in collaboration with the UAE Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter...
- Participants from 15 countries and organizations took part in the meeting.
- They agreed on strong collaboration among AML/CFT supervisory agencies.
Business
Dubai faces warehouse shortage, says new report
DUBAI, UAE — The supply of under construction warehouse stock in Dubai’s industrial market stands at 1.56 million square feet according...
- The report says that demand is outstripping supply and occupiers are faced with the prospect of leasing more secondary stock.
- Across the six primary submarkets tracked by Knight Frank in Abu Dhabi, rents have remained unchanged thus far during H2.
Geostrategy
Arab world to be center for global change in 2024, says Russian intelligence chief
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The chief of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, or SVR, believes the Arab world will take center stage...
- The Russian official said that the change has manifested itself in strong, sovereign leaders coming to power in a number of Arab countries.
- The rapid growth of anti-US and, more broadly, anti-Western sentiment in the region is one of the outcomes of this change, he said.
Israel plans ‘Hexagon Alliance’ in Mediterranean, Middle East to counter hostile regional blocs
Speaking ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu outlined a plan to establish what he called a “hexagon alliance system”...
Geostrategy
Company News
Al Ansari approves $85m dividend
Business
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Borouge proposes share buyback
Business
MENA Brief June 14: Iran-Israel War, Abu Dhabi Summit, Saudi Football Rise, & More
Tensions spiked as Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israeli air raids that killed senior Iranian military...
Geostrategy
MENA Brief: Key Geopolitical, Defence, and Innovation Updates – June 11, 2025
Regional tensions, high-stakes defence deals, and new innovation-led collaborations defined the Middle East and North Africa landscape on Wednesday. Here’s...
Analysis
MENA brief Jun 11: Umrah returns, ADGM surges, Abu Dhabi property market up
China has extended visa-free entry for up to 30 days to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain—boosting bilateral...
Geostrategy
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Economy
Key MENA trends: M&A surge to five-year high, Saudi port activity rises in May
Qatar's foreign reserves rise 3.6 percent year-on-year despite a dip in bonds and treasury holdings, Iraq releases Australian and Egyptian...
- Egypt and Turkey continue their coordination on ceasefire efforts and humanitarian aid, as diplomatic momentum struggles against on-ground escalation.
- The ICRC has warned that the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with medical infrastructure under increasing strain from ongoing hostilities.
Economy
MENA Outlook: Diversification, AI, and economic integration take centre stage
As the region pivots toward a post-oil future, recent developments across the Middle East and North Africa suggest an accelerating...
- Saudi government announced a $5.6 billion fertilizer JV between SABIC and Aramco, while also adopting new green building codes to reduce emissions
- From launching the world’s first AI-powered media council to streamlining family business, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are reinventing the regulatory ecosystem to attract global capital
Economy
IMF upgrades Saudi real GDP growth forecast to 6% in 2025, up from
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised upwards its forecast for Saudi Arabia's economic growth to...
- This adjustment from earlier estimates reflects the impact of extended oil production cuts and a slower-than-expected rebound in oil output.
- The IMF anticipates that inflation will remain contained, with an average annual rate holding steady at 2.1 percent in 2025 and easing slightly to 2 percent the following year.